10 Things You Didn't Know About Optimus Prime's Past (2024)

Optimus Prime is the iconic leader of the Autobots in the Transformers franchise, and he’s essentially been the brand’s face ever since 1984. Known for his wise words, truck alternate mode, and rivalry with Megatron, he’s one of the most iconic heroes in fiction. At the same time, there’s a lot that some audiences might not know about his earliest adventures.

Different continuities, comic books and cartoons have given contrasting takes on Optimus Prime’s origins. These include divergences in his function and even his name before becoming Autobot leader. With the new movie Transformers One offering a glimpse at Prime’s origin story, fans will want to know all the elements from previous incarnations.

10 Optimus Prime Had Different Names Before He Became Optimus Prime

In the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon, Optimus Prime was once known as Orion Pax. He, along with his girlfriend Ariel and friend Dion, were attacked by Megatron and his new horde of Decepticons. Thankfully, they were given new, rebuilt forms, with Orion Pax becoming Optimus Prime.

• There's still debate among fans over what exactly happened to Orion Pax's friend, Dion

In the Transformers: The War Within comics by former publishing home Dreamwave, Optimus Prime was once known as Optronix. This continuity was similar to Generation 1 but wasn't an exact recreation of the classic Marvel comic books or the cartoon. For the most part, however, Orion Pax is the most common "former name" for the character.

9 Optimus Prime Is Sometimes Built by Alpha Trion

In Marvel's Generation 1 comics, Optimus Prime's origins were somewhat muddled and cloudy. However, they were far firmer in the G1 cartoon, where the Orion Pax identity was introduced. There, it was revealed that Pax's upgrade into Optimus Prime was courtesy of Alpha Trion, a wise sage of an Autobot. This concept has since remained the norm in many cases.

• Alpha Trion's alternate mode varies by continuity, with the most common forms being a Cybertronian hovercraft and even a lion

In continuities like the IDW Publishing Transformers comic books, Alpha Trion is again a fatherly mentor to Optimus Prime. Likewise, the 2001 anime series Transformers: Robots in Disguise had him create Prime and Ultra Magnus. While the exact specifications of their relationship have changed over the years, Alpha Trion is usually the 'bot behind the greatest Autobot leader.

8 Optimus Prime Had the Same Alternate Mode on Cybertron

With many Transformers, their initial Cybertronian alternate modes are quite different from what they turn into on Earth. For instance, the G1 cartoon version of Soundwave was essentially a lamppost on Cybertron, but he turned into a cassette player on Earth. With Optimus Prime, however, things weren't so different, regardless of which planet he was on.

• Many of Optimus Prime's Cybertronian truck forms lack the trailer that he carries on Earth

Numerous continuities showcase Prime as turning into an alien truck on Cybertron. These vaguely resembled the forms he later takes on Earth, complete with "windows" that become his chest and smokestacks, in some cases. The first example of this was the first issue of the Marvel Comics Transformers series, which depicted him as essentially a truck that was partially a rolling cannon.

7 Optimus Prime Is Sometimes Preceded by Sentinel Prime

In the original Marvel Comics continuity, Optimus Prime was, as in other timelines, the only Autobot to bear the Matrix of Leadership. Before Optimus, there was an Autobot named Sentinel Prime, who was supposedly a valiant warrior. Despite this, there was little to no real focus on the character in different continuities of these comic books.

• In Transformers: Animated, Sentinel Prime was a contemporary of Optimus Prime and a fierce rival of his

A retcon in the G1 cartoon established that an Autobot seen in a flashback was another version of Sentinel Prime. Likewise, Sentinel was Optimus' predecessor in the Michael Bay Transformers movies, though he later betrayed the Autobot cause. His characterization and even his design are fairly inconsistent, and the most important part of the character is that his death paves the way for Optimus.

6 Optimus Prime Is the Last of the Primes

In many modern Transformers comic books, the concept of the original 13 Transformers has been reinterpreted as the Original 13 Primes. Optimus Prime is largely treated as the last of this group, with all of the others having died. Another take on this idea is that Orion Pax is actually a reincarnation of a previous Prime.

• Vector Prime, a time-traveling sage member of the 13 Primes, debuted in the anime Transformers: Cybertron

These ideas were adapted in numerous modern media, including the live-action Transformers movies. Transformers: Prime also drew heavily from the IDW mythology involving Orion Pax and his reincarnation, cementing the "13 Primes" idea as the archetypal origin for the character. Of course, he's not truly the last of the Primes, as future leaders such as Rodimus Prime come after him.

5 Optimus Prime Always Loved Elita-One

In the classic cartoon continuity, the love between Orion Pax and Ariel/Erial continued even after they were rebuilt as Optimus Prime and Elita-One. That was especially the case in the Netflix War for Cybertron series, where the two tried to imagine a life with each other without war potentially dooming them. A new take on the concept will be seen in Transformers One, with a young Orion Pax befriending Elita-1 (who already has her name).

• Elita-One in Transformers: Animated (who becomes Blackarachnia) has a design based more on G1 Ariel

Despite their feelings for each other, they're fiercely dedicated to the Autobot cause. Thus, Elita-One usually stays behind on Cybertron to defend the Transformers' planet. In the G1 cartoon, she's also shown as having her own squad of female Autobots, all connected to male counterparts stationed on Earth. Regardless of where they are, however, the sparks of Optimus Prime and Elita-One belong to each other.

4 Optimus Prime Is Sometimes a Gladiator

In many comic books, Megatron is given the backstory of being a gladiator. This serves to either characterize him as a bloodthirsty tyrant or make him a somewhat tragic and downtrodden Cybertronian. Ironically, Optimus Prime himself sometimes mirrors him in this early profession.

• As a joke, one notable comic book panel had a gladiator Megatron killing Cy-Kill from the Gobots franchise

Optimus Prime once intervened in one of Megatron's gladiator fights to stop him from killing a helpless opponent. It seems like an ill-fitting former role for the future Autobot leader, but it also makes sense. Given his experience with the brutal form of entertainment, Optimus Prime would logically come to the conclusion that freedom is the right of all sentient beings.

3 Optimus Prime Is (Sometimes) Ultra Magnus’ Brother

Ultra Magnus is essentially a "white repaint" of Optimus Prime, having a cab in truck mode that turns into a robot identical to Prime. There wasn't much done with this in G1, but later continuities finally capitalized on the resemblance. The most notable was an anime that made Prime and Magnus' connection a full-circle homage.

• The Dreamwave comics confirmed that Ultra Magnus was a rebuilt version of Dion

In Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Ultra Magnus was Optimus Prime's younger brother, who was jealous of Prime being given the Matrix. Created by Alpha Trion, they could combine into the mighty Omega Prime. This take on the character was called "God Magnus" in Japan. It was both a new version of Ultra Magnus and based on God Bomber from the anime Transformers: Super-God Masterforce. Ironically, this new design was not at all a mere repaint of Optimus Prime.

2 Animated Optimus Was Much Younger

The series Transformers: Animated had a much different take on Optimus Prime and the series' broader mythos. In that universe, Prime was merely a title, with Magnus (i.e., Ultra Magnus) actually being a superior rank. Transformers: Animated Optimus Prime was still a young Autobot and had no experience in battle before the series began. This made him far less than a match for his version of Megatron.

• Animated Optimus Prime was voiced by David Kaye, who voiced versions of Megatron in both the Beast Era and the Unicron Trilogy

Despite his inexperience, Optimus successfully protected Earth with his ragtag team of Autobots. This earned him the respect of Ultra Magnus and the begrudging respect of both Sentinel Prime and Megatron. By the series' end, he wore the "Allspark" in a receptacle that resembled the traditional Matrix of Leadership.

1 Optimus Prime Once Worked Day Jobs

For a future Autobot leader, some of Optimus Prime's other jobs were less than illustrious. As Orion Pax in the G1 cartoon continuity, he was a mere dockworker. Likewise, the Optronix incarnation gave him the role of a data clerk on Cybertron. Only after the war spread across the planet did these robots become the military leaders they were meant to be.

• In Transformers: Animated, Prime's role was actually that of an explorer/scientist, similar to Beast Wars: Transformers' Optimus Primal

It's odd to imagine Optimus Prime doing such mundane tasks, but it also showcases the life he's trying to get back to. Knowing peace before the war, he would take pride in not always being a military leader. While he might be known for telling his fellow Autobots to "transform and roll out" to battle the Decepticons, he'd much rather "roll for it" toward a peaceful existence.

Transformers

Transformersis a mediafranchiseproduced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.

First Film

Transformers

Latest Film

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

First TV Show

The Transformers

Latest TV Show

Transformers: EarthSpark (2022)

Cast

Peter Cullen , Wil Wheaton , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Luna Lauren Velez , Dominique Fishback